Operant Conditioning Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is operant conditioning?

Shaping behavior through rewards and punishment.

Which of the following are ways of modifying behavior? (Select all that apply)

Positive Reinforcement (correct)

Positive Punishment (correct)

Negative Reinforcement (correct)

What is positive reinforcement?

Rewards or incentives for good behavior.

What does shaping refer to in operant conditioning?

Gradual training that rewards behavior progressively closer to the desired one. Signup and view all the answers

What is negative reinforcement?

Rewards desired behavior by taking away something aversive. Signup and view all the answers

What is positive punishment?

Administering something aversive after misbehavior. Signup and view all the answers

What are natural consequences?

Punishments enacted naturally as a consequence of the negative behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is negative punishment?

Stopping bad behavior by taking away something good. Signup and view all the answers

What is a reinforcement schedule?

Giving out rewards for good behavior at certain intervals. Signup and view all the answers

What is continuous reinforcement?

Always giving out a reward for good behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is partial reinforcement?

Only sometimes giving out a reward for good behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is fixed-ratio reinforcement?

The number of responses required for reinforcement is always the same. Signup and view all the answers

What is variable-ratio reinforcement?

Giving out a reward after a random number of behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

What is fixed-interval reinforcement?

Giving out a reward after a certain amount of time has passed. Signup and view all the answers

What is variable-interval reinforcement?

Giving out a reward after a random amount of time has passed. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between fixed and variable?

Fixed is certain while Variable is random. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between ratio and interval?

Refers to if the reward is given after the behavior versus after a certain amount of time has passed. Signup and view all the answers

What is socialization?

How children learn to become mature members of society and learn their culture's rules. Signup and view all the answers

What is social learning?

Observational learning that occurs when someone watches others get rewarded or punished for behavior. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the types of reinforcement in operant conditioning.

Operant conditioning includes positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, and negative punishment. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Operant Conditioning Overview

Operant Conditioning involves shaping behavior through rewards and punishment.
Four main methods to modify behavior: positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, and negative punishment.

Positive Reinforcement

Involves providing rewards or incentives for good behavior.
Effective in shaping behavior but can also lead to unhealthy habits (e.g., addiction to substances).

Negative Reinforcement

Encourages desired behavior by removing an aversive stimulus.
Example: Animals learn to pull a lever to stop receiving a shock.

Positive Punishment

Involves administering something unpleasant after misbehavior (e.g., spankings).
Typically results in temporary behavioral change and may increase aggression in children.

Negative Punishment

Involves removing something positive to stop bad behavior, often referred to as a time-out.
Example: Sending a child to bed without dinner as a consequence for misbehavior.

Natural Consequences

Punishments that occur naturally as a result of one’s actions.
Example: A child touching a hot stove gets burned.

Reinforcement Schedules

Rewards for good behavior can be given at specific intervals either continuously or partially.
Continuous reinforcement provides rewards every time the behavior occurs.

Partial Reinforcement Schedules

Only occasionally providing rewards for good behavior; includes four types:
- Fixed-Ratio: Rewards after a set number of behaviors (e.g., commission-based jobs).
- Variable-Ratio: Rewards after a random number of behaviors, leading to increased desired behavior.
- Fixed-Interval: Rewards after a fixed amount of time has passed (e.g., weekly paychecks).
- Variable-Interval: Rewards after varying amounts of time, creating unpredictability.

Fixed vs. Variable

Fixed schedules provide certainty; rewards are expected.
Variable schedules create randomness, increasing engagement and anticipation.

Ratio vs. Interval

Ratio refers to rewards given based on the number of behaviors performed.
Interval refers to rewards given after a set period, regardless of behavior frequency.

Socialization

The process through which children learn to become mature members of society, also known as acculturation.

A type of observational learning where individuals learn by watching others being rewarded or punished for specific behaviors.

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Description

Test your understanding of operant conditioning with these flashcards. Each card focuses on key concepts such as the mechanisms of behavior modification and the types of reinforcement and punishment. Perfect for psychology students or anyone interested in learning about behavior analysis.